Upright piano



R. P. BRASTED UPRIGHT PIANO Feb. 4, 1941.

Filed Dec. 6, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 4, 1941. R -r 2,230,928

UPRIGHT PIANO Filed Dec. 6, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 4, 1941 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE UPRIGHT PIANO Robert Percy Brasted, Finsbury Park, London, England, assignor to W. G. Eavestaff & Sons Limited, Finsbury Park, London, England, a company of Great Britain Application December 6, 1939, Serial No. 307,888 In Great Britain December 17, 1938 1 Claim. (Cl. 84-240) This invention relates to improvements in uppanying drawings which illustrate several forms right pianos and it has for object to provide a thereof by way of example and wherein: piano having a case which requires a smaller Figure 1 is a perspective view of the upper part amount of material than cases as at present conof an upright miniature piano constructed in acstructed and also by which other advantages may cordance with the present improvements.

be obtained. Figure 2 is a part-sectional end elevation of the In a miniature upright piano the action is same piano, the section being central. wholly or mainly below the keyboard. The ends Figure 3 is a perspective view of another conof the case extend a little above the keyboard. struction of miniature upright piano in accord- The piano is closed at the top by the fall-back ance with the invention, the removable housing 10 and the fall which are substantially level with for the upper part of the frame being shown in the tops of the ends. The fall-back extends over raised position, and

the top of the frame so that the height of the Figure 4 is a similar view illustrating a further ends is the same as or substantially the same construction of miniature upright piano in acas that of the frame. In such a construction cordance with this invention. 5

the keyboard is then higher than it need be for In Figures 1 and 2, the ends a of the piano convenience which necessitates the use of a relacase terminate short of the top of the frame I) tively high music stool. by a distance 0 which may be say four or five In an ordinary upright piano the ends extend inches and represents an advantageous shortenv up to the top of the frame and forward of it, ing of the length of these ends and consequent 20 the fall-back and fall extending from the front saving of material. The keyboard (I is also panel which closes the front of the case above lowered the same distance. The fall-back 6 exthe keyboard. tends rearward to a position a short distance In another construction of upright piano, the in front of the upper end of the frame b and is case ends are widened so that the keyboard is suitably secured to the ends a. The fall 1 is 25 located wholly within the case ends, and a top hinged to the fall-back e in the usual way at g panel or door is arranged, when the piano is not and the name board it slopes downwards and in use, above and in front of the keyboard to forwards from under the hinge g to a point over close the front of the case. The door is supported the rear end of the keys in normal fashion. The

on the front ends of links whose rear ends are top part of the frame is enclosed in a removable 30 pivoted to the case ends, so that it can be swung housing is which at its rear edge I bears on parts back bodily to a position at the rear of the keyof the wooden framework of the piano, t it board when the piano is in use. The front porends m bears on the ends a of the piano case, and tion of the case top, which is flush with the tops at its front edge 11 bears on the rear edge of the of the case ends and extends rearwards over the fall-back e, suitably through a pad i. This hous- 35 top of the frame, hinges back to allow the door ing is is free and may be easily lifted off when it to make this rearward movement, throughout is desired to remove the fall and fall-back or which it is held substantially vertical. when it is desired to examine or have access It is an object of the present invention to proto the top of the frame for any reason, for invide a construction of piano case in which the stance to adjust the wrest pins 0 for tuning 40 ends are shorter than normally whereby a savpurposes. ing of material is effected in making the piano In some constructions of piano there is no back case. At the same time the keyboard is lowered so that the rear edge 1 0f t e housing 76 s no to a more convenient position and the top of the bearing on another part.

frame is readily accessible for adjustment of the In Figure 3, the housing is is hinged or pivoted 45 wrest pins for tuning, or for other purposes. The at one end 10 to the adjacent end a of the piano ends of the case may still extend forward to the case, so that it is removable from the upper front edge of the keyboard and the latter may end'of the frame b by lifting it about the hinge be covered by a panel or door. The invention or pivot. In the position, which is shown in also offers the advantage that the top of the the drawings, the end of the housing remote from.50 case may be shaped to the contour of the top the hinge or pivot may be supported by a prop of the frame, thereby providing a very attractive stick or strut r permitting the said housing to finish to the upper part of the piano. vbe inclined in the vertical plane in a manner In order to enable the invention to be readily similar to that used in supporting the tops of understood, reference is directed to the accomgrand pianos. This is a favourable condition for 55 permitting more readily the escape of sound from the piano when in use.

According to the construction shown in Figure 4, the removable housing I: is adapted to be secured in position by providing it at the ends with metal pins s which fit in metal bushed holes or sockets t in the tops of the ends a of the piano case. Other means than pins and sockets and known in the art may be employed for securing the removable housing It in position.

In each illustrated construction, the housing is is readily removable from the upper end of the frame b. The drawings also show that where the said frame is curved in shape at its top edge, the housing k may be similarly shaped. This not only saves material but gives a pleasing appearance to the finished piano.

In applying the invention to an ordinary upright piano, the ends of the case again would be terminated short of the top of the frame in a similar manner to that already illustrated and the top of the frame would also be enclosed in a similar removable housing, resting at the back on the wooden framework of the piano, at the front on the back edge of the top which would extend rearwards to a position a short distance in front of the upper end of the frame, and at the sides on the tops of the ends of the piano case, as will be understood without further illustration. Obviously, similar construction is also applicable to an upright piano of the kind described above in which the case ends are widened to receive the keyboard between them, and a front door or panel is movable bodily to open and close the piano ease, the hinged front half-top of the case in raised position suitably resting against the removable housing enclosing the top of the frame.

What I claim is:

An upright piano having a vertical frame with wrest pins at the top thereof, a case enclosing said frame including ends extending upwardly from the bottom of the piano frame, said ends terminating short of the top of the frame at substantially the level of the wrest pins to enclose the greater part of the frame, and a unitary housing removably mounted on the case and on said ends and entirely enclosing the otherwise exposed upper portion of the frame, said housing having a contour similar to that of the upper portion of the frame.

ROBERT PERCY BRASTED. 

